Method of treating checks to prevent fraudulent alteration thereof



(No Model.)

E. J. MIMS. METHOD OF TREATING OHEGKS TO PREVENT ERAUDULENT ALTERATIONS THEREOF. Patented Jan. 1 1894.

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FIG: I P QZ RDER OF UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. MIMS, OF EDGEFIELD, SOUTH CAROLINA.

METHOD OF TREATING CHECKS Ttl PREVENT FRAUDULENT ALTERATION THEREOF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,985, dated January 16,1894.

Application filed July 27, 1893. Serial No. 481,672. (No specimens.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. MIMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgefield, in the county of Edgefield and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Checks to Prevent the Fraudulent Alteration Thereof; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in methods for protecting checks from being raised, or fraudulently altered and it consists of certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a check filled out and ready for the application of the protection hereinafter described. Fig. 2 represents the same check after it has been slit by a number of parallel lines cut through the figures. Fig. 3 represents the same check having the figures covered with a strip of transparent or translucent adhesive material, such as sticking plaster. Fig. 4 represents the same check' shown in Fig. 3 having the transparent material and the body of the check slit with a plurality of lines parallel to each other, and at right angles to the lines already cut in the body of the check, and Fig. 5 represents the back of the check shown in Fig. 4.

A represents the body of the check filled out in the usual way, and B represents the strip of adhesive material sufficiently transparent to enable the figures of the check to be seen through the same. This strip of adhesive material may be permanently attached to the check, or may be supplied at the time the check is filled out.

The figures on the check are first cut across with a number of parallel lines 1, as shown in Fig. 2, and then the adhesive material is pasted over the figures and lines so cut, as shown in Fig. 3. Now the adhesive material and the body of the check beneath the same are slit with horizontal lines 2, as shown in Fig. 4, and the protection is complete. In order to alter the amount of the check it will now become necessary to remove the adhesive material B which will so mutilate the check that it will be impossible to readjust I only by adhesion to the strip B, and that when this strip is removed, a hole will be left in the check where the figures were, the said hole having dentated edges which it would be practically impossible to exactly fit with a new adhesive strip, containing similar paper squares.

While the lines are shown as at right angles to each other, it will be obvious that lines crossing each'other at any angle would accomplish the same purpose. Where the lines cross at an angle the pieces of paper cutout of the check would be lozenge-shaped. For the purpose of cutting these lines a simple form of instrument might readily be made, or the same might be done with a sharp knife.

The strip 13' might be made of ordinary sticking plaster, or any similar thin material sufficiently transparent for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire toosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The method of treating checks to prevent the fraudulent alteration thereof, which consists in cuttinga plurality of slits through the body of the check and the figures thereon, in covering the slitted port-ion with transparent adhesive material, and in slitting said material and the check beneath the same in a direction different from that of the first slits, substantially as and for the purposes described. 4

2. As an article of manufacture, a check having a portion thereof cut through by a plurality of lines, and an adhesive strip covering said portion of the cheek and both check and strip cut throughby a plurality of lines at an angle to the lines aforesaid, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J, MIMS.

Witnesses:

ALVIN HART, J. L. Mnvrs. 

